Sir John Thomas Johnston Lipton

(May 10, 1850 - October 2 1931)

Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton started out as a small grocer, and developed the business into a chain of stores throughout Great Britain, and eventually into the largest commercial business the country. He purchased coffee, tea and cocoa plantations, had his own fruit farms, bakeries, jam factories, and even a meat packing house in Chicago.

He was also an ardent yachtsman, racing his yacht 'Shamrock' in the America's Cup 5 times (unsuccessfully).